What the pensions u-turn means for you

Carers and those who take time out to look after children are left high and dry

MOTHERS who take a career break to bring up their children have been robbed of their chance of a decent state pension after a government u-turn, campaigners have claimed.

The government quietly dropped plans to make it easier for women to top up their state-pension entitlement last week, provoking outrage among consumer groups and gasps of dismay from the House of Lords.

Michelle Mitchell at Age Concern said: "This is a slap in the face for thousands of women in or approaching retirement who are being penalised for taking time out of work to care. The government's shameful u-turn will condemn many more women to poverty."

Here we explain what is at stake and how it affects you.

What was going to change? Earlier this year, peers passed an amendment to the Pensions Bill, which would have allowed women who take time off work to care for their children to